Fetterman addresses criticism over need for closed captioning during his stroke recovery

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman on Wednesday addressed recent criticism he has received for needing to use closed captioning during interviews after he suffered a stroke in May.

During a Facebook Live interview with editorial members of PennLive, Fetterman said he has always been upfront about needing closed captioning to help him because his stroke caused him to have temporary auditory processing issues. He said he used captioning during the interview with the PennLive editorial board.

“I always have been very honest about saying, ‘I need captioning,’” Fetterman said. “I know that you are speaking and sometimes I will hear it, but if I am being asked a very specific kind of question, I need to know exactly what that is. If someone wants to hold that against me, they might regret that, but the truth is that half of Americans that watch TV use captions, too.”

After an MSNBC interview aired Tuesday, some national political journalists and pundits questioned if Pennsylvanians would support Fetterman given that he had to conduct an interview using closed captioning.

Controversy ensued after NBC reporter Dasha Burns questioned Fetterman’s ability to understand her prior to their interview with closed captioning.

She said that during small talk with Fetterman without captioning, “it did seem that he had a hard time understanding our conversations.”

“Our reporting did not and should not comment on fitness for office,” Burns tweeted on Wednesday. “This is for voters to decide. What we push for as reporters is transparency. It’s our job.”

The Tribune-Review found 10 published stories, including ones from Pittsburgh publications and national outlets, that mention Fetterman informing reporters he needed closed captioning to help him understand their questions, including his first post-stroke interview on July 20.

In September, when Fetterman agreed to a televised debate with his Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz, his campaign indicated that he would be using closed captioning.

Some have criticized the framing of the MSNBC interview as ableist, including Philadelphia physician Zeke Taylor, who tweeted that people with disabilities shouldn’t be solely defined by their disability. Taylor is part of a group of doctors who are supporting Fetterman, and have been critical of Oz’s medical history on his daytime television show.

Others, including conservative pundits, have said the issue has exemplified a lack of transparency about Fetterman’s health and stroke recovery.

The PennLive editorial board asked Fetterman repeatedly if he would be releasing any updated information from his physicians about his stroke recovery.

Fetterman said that nothing has changed compared to a statement that his doctor gave in early June when Fetterman announced he had suffered from a stroke a few days prior. He said he would inform the public if anything changes.

In a June letter, Dr. Ramesh Chandra said that if Fetterman continues to take his medication, eat healthy and exercise, he should recover well and “should be able to campaign and serve in the U.S. Senate without a problem.”

Fetterman said the progress he has made is “evident,” but didn’t say if he would be releasing any updates from his doctors. He dodged that specific question from the PennLive editorial board members multiple times.

“I think the ultimate kind of transparency is being in front of thousands of people on stage, not using a teleprompter,” he said in reference to the rallies he has held after his stroke. “Most politicians use a teleprompter, but no one wonders if he or she is able to do the job.”

Oz said in a tweet that Fetterman is refusing to release his medical records, despite calls from his campaign and the media.

“What is he hiding?” said Oz, who released his medical records last month.

Fetterman said his speech therapist believes his auditory processing abilities will recover and he will fully recover, but added there is no guarantee of that.

“Is that a guarantee? No,” he said. “But it is certainly part of what usually happens with anyone that has these kinds of circumstances and conditions, too.”

During the 50-minute interview, Fetterman also challenged Oz to participate in interviews with publications and editorial boards across the state. Fetterman said Oz had ridiculed him for allegedly dodging the press, but said Oz hasn’t done lengthy interviews with other newspapers about the issues.

“I am still able to show up. Isn’t that remarkable? That someone that had a stroke, that has faced a lot of adversaries, is now showing up to talk to you,” Fetterman said. “But Dr. Oz, who has made that the center part of his campaign, has not chosen to show up with any of you.”